You can trivialize it if you want, but the year Leading up to Obamas inauguration this country shed over 4 million jobs, Reagan didnt face that, as bad as you guys said Carter was, his administration actually stabilized and took a lot of the blame for the Nixon issues.

FORBES: The Only Way Out Of The Great Stagnation

Inauguration activities kicked off on Saturday with the Obamas and Biden and his wife, Jill, leading volunteers across the country in National Day of Service Activities.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

The Obamas dashed around Washington to 10 balls in 2009, but like many things in his second inauguration -- smaller crowds, shorter lines, shorter speeches -- the number was reduced.

CNN: Obamas party with 30,000 close friends